Transistor and method for fabricating the same

ABSTRACT

A transistor and a method for fabricating the same that involves a forming a device isolation oxide film semiconductor substrate, forming an opening in the device isolation oxide to open the substrate and define an active region, the junction between the oxide and the substrate having a rounded profile, and then forming a complex gate electrode structure in the active region. The preferred gate electrode structure comprises a gate oxide and a stacked conductor structure having a first and a second conductor, an optional hard mask layer formed on the second conductor, an oxide layer formed on the first conductor, and nitride spacers formed on the oxide layer on the sidewalls of the gate electrode. On either side of the gate electrode structure lightly doped drain (LDD) regions and source drain regions are then formed in the active region of the semiconductor substrate. The wafer is then planarized with one or more insulating films to condition the wafer for subsequent processing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an improved transistor and a method for fabricating the same that can improve electrical properties and manufacturing yield. The method disclosed includes forming a device isolation oxide film, etching the isolation oxide to form an active region, and forming a gate electrode within the active region.

[0003] 2. Description of the Background Art

[0004] FIGS. 1 to 3 respectively illustrate a conventional transistor. Here, FIG. 1 is a layout diagram illustrating the transistor, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the transistor, taken along line I-I in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the transistor, taken along line II-II in FIG. 1.

[0005] As illustrated therein, the conventional transistor includes: a device isolation oxide film 14 formed in a device isolation region on a p-type semiconductor substrate 11; a gate electrode 16 formed by positioning a gate oxide film 15 on the semiconductor substrate 11; a lightly doped drain (LDD) region 17 formed in the active region on the semiconductor substrate 11 at both sides of the gate electrode 16; a second nitride film spacer 18 formed at both sides of the gate electrode 16; and a source/drain junction region 19 formed at both sides of the second nitride film spacer 18 and the gate electrode 16.

[0006]FIGS. 4a to 4 d and 5 a to 5 d are cross-sectional diagrams illustrating sequential steps of a conventional method for fabricating the transistor.

[0007] Referring to FIGS. 4a and 5 a, a device isolation region is defined according to a general shallow trench isolation (STI) method. A pad oxide film 12, a first nitride film 13 and a first photoresist film pattern are sequentially formed on the p-type semiconductor substrate 11. Here, the first photoresist film pattern is formed according to conventional exposure and development processes employing a device isolation mask.

[0008] Thereafter, the first nitride film 13, pad oxide film 12 and a portion of semiconductor substrate 11 are selectively etched using the first photoresist pattern as a mask to form a trench.

[0009] The first photoresist film pattern is removed, and the device isolation oxide film 14 is grown on the whole surface including the trench and then planarized utilizing a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) or etchback process. The planarization process uses first nitride film 13 as planarization end point with sufficient overetch to ensure that the device isolation oxide film 14 remains only in the trench.

[0010] As illustrated in FIGS. 4b and 5 b, a channel region (C) is formed on the semiconductor substrate 11 by removing the nitride film 13 and the pad oxide film 12 from the active area of semiconductor substrate 11, and implanting ions into the semiconductor substrate 11.

[0011] The gate oxide film 15 is then formed on the semiconductor substrate 11 utilizing a thermal oxidation process, and the gate electrode 16, preferably having a stacked structure with a polysilicon layer 16 a and a tungsten layer 16 b, is then formed on the gate oxide film 15.

[0012] A second photoresist film pattern is then formed on the tungsten layer 16 b. Here, the photoresist film pattern is formed utilizing conventional exposure and development processes and a gate electrode mask.

[0013] The tungsten layer 16 b, polysilicon layer 16 a and gate oxide film 15 are then selectively etched using the second photoresist film pattern as a mask to form the gate electrode 16. The second photoresist film pattern is then removed.

[0014] As depicted in FIGS. 4c and 5 c, a lightly doped n-type impurity ion implantation process is then performed using the gate electrode 16 as a mask. The implanted ions are then diffused using a drive-in process to form a lightly-doped drain region 17 on both sides of the gate electrode 16.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 4d and 5 d, the second nitride film is then formed on the whole surface including the gate electrode 16. The second nitride film spacer 18 is formed on the semiconductor substrate 11 at both sides of the gate electrode 16, by etching the second nitride film.

[0016] A highly doped n-type impurity ion implantation process is then performed using the gate electrode 16 and the second nitride film spacer 18 as a mask. The ions are diffused using drive-in process, thereby forming a source/drain junction region 19 at both sides of the gate electrode 16 including the second nitride film spacer 18.

[0017] However, the conventional transistor and the method for fabricating the same have the following disadvantages:

[0018] Firstly, the sidewalls of the device isolation oxide film are commonly damaged during the LOCOS process, STI process, ion implantation process and succeeding thermal treatment. Thus, a leakage current increases and the refresh properties of the DRAM deteriorate.

[0019] Secondly, the thickness of the gate oxide film may be smaller at the end portion of the active region than the center portion thereof because of a stepped portion from the device isolation oxide film. Accordingly, gate oxide integrity is damaged and a reverse narrow width effect is generated in the transistor. In phenomenon known as the “reverse narrow width effect”, V_(T) (threshold voltage) is lowered, breakdown voltage is reduced, and as a result, junction leakage current is increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a transistor that can prevent or suppress leakage currents, damage to the gate oxide integrity, and reverse narrow width effect, and a method for fabricating the same.

[0021] In order to achieve the above-described object of the present invention, there is provided a transistor: a device isolation oxide film that defines an active region on a semiconductor substrate. A gate electrode is provided in the active region with a gate oxide film positioned between the substrate and the gate electrode, the gate electrode having a stacked structure. The first gate electrode layer is approximately equal height to the height of the device isolation oxide film. A second gate electrode layer is subsequently formed on the upper portion of the gate electrode. A lightly doped drain (LDD) region provided in the active region at both sides of the gate electrode with a nitride film spacer positioned at the sidewalls of the device isolation oxide film and the gate electrode layer. A source/drain junction region is provided in the active region on both sides of the gate electrode with second and third oxide films filling in the active region between the first gate electrode and the device isolation oxide film.

[0022] There is also provided a method for fabricating a transistor, including the steps of: forming a device isolation oxide film to define an active region at the upper portion of a semiconductor substrate; forming a first gate electrode on a gate oxide film in the active region; forming a first oxide film on the surface of the first gate electrode; forming a lightly doped drain (LDD) region in the active region at both sides of the first gate electrode; forming an insulation film spacer at both sides of the first gate electrode and at the sidewalls of the device isolation film; forming a source/drain junction region on the semiconductor substrate at both sides of the first gate electrode including the insulation film spacer; forming second and third planarized oxide films between the first gate electrode including the insulation film spacer and the device isolation oxide film; and forming a gate electrode having a stacked structure with a first gate electrode, a second gate electrode and a hard mask layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying figures. These figures are provided only by way of illustration and thus should not be understood to unnecessarily limit the present invention, wherein:

[0024]FIG. 1 is a layout diagram illustrating a conventional transistor;

[0025]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the transistor, taken along line I-I in FIG. 1;

[0026]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the transistor, taken along line II-II in FIG. 1;

[0027]FIGS. 4a to 4 d are cross-sectional diagrams illustrating sequential steps of a conventional method for fabricating the transistor, taken along line I-I in FIG. 1;

[0028]FIGS. 5a to 5 d are cross-sectional diagrams illustrating the sequential steps of the conventional method for fabricating the transistor, taken along line II-II in FIG. 1;

[0029]FIG. 6 is a layout diagram illustrating a transistor in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0030]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the transistor, taken along line III-III in FIG. 6;

[0031]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the transistor, taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 6;

[0032]FIGS. 9a to 9 f are cross-sectional diagrams illustrating sequential steps of a method for fabricating the transistor, taken along line III-III in FIG. 6; and

[0033]FIGS. 10a to 10 f are cross-sectional diagrams illustrating the sequential steps of the method for fabricating the transistor, taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] A transistor and a method for fabricating the same in accordance with the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0035] FIGS. 6 to 8 illustrate the transistor according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the transistor, taken along line III-III in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the transistor, taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 6.

[0036] As illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8, the transistor includes: a semiconductor substrate 31; a device isolation oxide film 32 for defining an opening 100 which corresponds to an active region; the gate electrode has a stacked structure comprising first gate electrode 35 positioned on gate oxide film 34 that had been formed on the semiconductor substrate 31, and a second electrode 43 formed on the first gate electrode 35; a lightly doped drain (LDD) region 38 formed in the active region of the semiconductor substrate 31 at both sides of the gate electrode; a nitride film spacer 39 formed at both sides of the gate electrode and at the sidewalls of the device isolation oxide film 32; a source/drain junction region 40 formed in the active region of the semiconductor substrate 31 at both sides of the gate electrode including the nitride film spacer 39; and second and third oxide films 41, 42 provided on the nitride film spacer 39.

[0037] Preferably, the lower portion of the groove 100 consists of the semiconductor substrate 31.

[0038]FIGS. 9a to 9 f and 10 a to 10 f are cross-sectional diagrams illustrating sequential steps of a method for fabricating the transistor in accordance with the present invention.

[0039] Referring to FIGS. 9a and 10 a, the device isolation oxide film 32 and first photoresist film pattern 33 are formed on the p-type semiconductor substrate 31. Here, the first photoresist film pattern 33 is formed to cover a device isolation region.

[0040] After forming the device isolation oxide film 32 well ions, field stop ions and threshold voltage (V_(t)) control ions are implanted into the whole surface, and then the first photoresist film pattern 33 is formed.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 9b and 10 b, the opening 100 for exposing the active region of the semiconductor substrate 31 is formed by selectively etching the device isolation oxide film 32 using the first photoresist film pattern 33 as a mask.

[0042] Here, the device isolation oxide film 32 is etched so that the bottom edges of the opening 100 can be rounded, thereby preventing subsequent damage to the gate oxide integrity and reverse narrow width effects from affecting the resulting transistor.

[0043] Thereafter, the first photoresist film pattern 33 is removed, and a gate oxide film 34 is grown on the exposed semiconductor substrate 31.

[0044] A first polysilicon layer 35 a is formed on the whole surface of the semiconductor substrate 31 including the opening 100.

[0045] As illustrated in FIGS. 9c and 10 c, the first polysilicon layer 35 a is planarized utilizing a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process using the exposure of the device isolation oxide film 32 as an end point. A second photoresist film pattern 36 is then formed on the first polysilicon layer 35 a. Here, the second photoresist film pattern 36 is formed using conventional exposure and development processes and a gate electrode mask.

[0046] As depicted in FIGS. 9d and 10 d, the first gate electrode 35 is then formed by selectively etching the first polysilicon layer 35 a using the second photoresist film pattern 36 as a mask. Thereafter, the second photoresist film pattern 36 is removed.

[0047] A first oxide film 37 is grown on the first gate electrode 35 by thermally oxidizing the first gate electrode 35. A lightly doped n-type impurity ion implantation process is performed on the semiconductor substrate 31 using the device isolation oxide film 32 and the first gate electrode 35 as masks. Ions are diffused using a drive-in process to form the LDD region 38 in the active region on the semiconductor substrate 31 at both sides of the first gate electrode 35.

[0048] A nitride film is then formed on the whole surface. The nitride film spacer 39 is formed at both sides of the first gate electrode 35 and at the sidewalls of the device isolation oxide film 32, by etching back the nitride film.

[0049] A highly doped n-type impurity ion implantation process is carried out by using the first gate electrode 35 and the nitride film spacer 39 as a mask. Ions are diffused using a drive-in process to form the source/drain junction region 40 in the active region on the semiconductor substrate 31 at both sides of the first gate electrode 35 including the nitride film spacer 39.

[0050] As shown in FIGS. 9e and 10 e, the second and third oxide films 41, 42 are then formed on the whole surface, including the nitride film spacer 39, and planarized using the CMP process to expose the first gate electrode 35, again using the exposure of the device isolation oxide film 32 as an end point.

[0051] A second polysilicon layer 43 a, a hard mask layer 44 and a third photoresist film pattern 45 are then stacked on the planarized surface. Here, the third photoresist film pattern 45 is formed using conventional exposure and development processes and again using the gate electrode mask.

[0052] Referring to FIGS. 9f and 10 f, a second gate electrode 43 is formed by selectively etching the hard mask layer 44 and the second polysilicon layer 43 a using the third photoresist film pattern 45 as a mask. The resulting gate electrode has a stacked structure comprising the first gate electrode 35, second gate electrode 43 and hard mask layer 44. The third photoresist film pattern 45 is then removed.

[0053] As described above, the gate electrode consists of the first and second gate electrodes 35, 43. As shown in FIG. 10f, the first and second gate electrodes 35, 43 form a T shape.

[0054] As discussed earlier, the transistor and the method for fabricating the same in accordance with the present invention fabricate the gate electrode by forming the device isolation oxide film and etching the active region, and thus prevents a leakage current of the source/drain in the LOCOS or STI process, improves the refresh properties of the resulting DRAM, prevents damage to the gate oxide film, and decreases the reverse narrow width effect, junction leakage current and damage to the gate oxide integrity. As a result, the device properties and yield are improved.

[0055] As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiment is not necessarily limited to the particular details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims. Therefore, all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalences of such metes and bounds are intended to be embraced by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A transistor comprising: a device isolation oxide film formed on a semiconductor substrate, the device isolation oxide including an opening that exposes a portion of the semiconductor substrate, the exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate defining an active region; a gate electrode structure formed in the active region, wherein the gate electrode structure covers only a central portion of the active region and is separated from the device isolation oxide film, the gate electrode structure further comprising a gate oxide film formed on the semiconductor substrate in the active region, a gate electrode formed on the gate oxide film, the gate electrode having an upper surface and two substantially vertical sidewalls, the gate electrode further comprising a stacked structure having a first conductor and a second conductor, an oxide layer formed on the first conductor, and nitride spacers formed on the oxide layer on the sidewalls of the gate electrode; lightly doped drain (LDD) regions formed in the active region of the semiconductor substrate on both sides of the gate electrode; source/drain regions formed in the active region of the semiconductor substrate on both sides of the gate electrode; and second and third insulating films filling and planarizing the space above the active region and between the gate electrode structure and the device isolation oxide film.
 2. The transistor according to claim 1 , wherein the device isolation oxide film surrounding the opening has substantially vertical profile with respect to the exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate, the profile being modified near the junction of the device isolation oxide film and the semiconductor substrate such that the device isolation oxide film has a substantially rounded profile.
 3. The transistor according to claim 1 , wherein a hard mask layer is formed on the gate electrode.
 4. A method for fabricating a transistor, comprising the steps of: forming a device isolation oxide film for defining a groove which corresponds to an active region at the upper portion of a semiconductor substrate; forming a first gate electrode by positioning a gate oxide film in the active region; forming a first oxide film on the surface of the first gate electrode; forming a lightly doped drain (LDD) region in the active region at both sides of the first gate electrode; forming an insulation film spacer at both sides of the first gate electrode and at the side walls of the device isolation film; forming a source/drain junction region on the semiconductor substrate at both sides of the first gate electrode including the insulation film spacer; forming second and third planarized oxide films between the first gate electrode including the first insulation film spacer and the device isolation oxide film; and forming a gate electrode having a stacked structure of a first gate electrode, second gate electrode and hard mask layer, by forming the second gate electrode and the hard mask layer on the first gate electrode.
 5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode comprise polysilicon.
 6. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the first gate electrode comprises polysilicon and further wherein the first oxide film is formed by thermally oxidizing the first gate electrode. 